Petunia plant named ‘BHTUN31501’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘BHTUN31501’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; picotee-type flowers that are dark red purple in color with green-colored margins and dark violet-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BHTUN31501’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BHTUN31501’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Petunia plants with unique flower color combinations and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 16, 2006 in Bonsall, Calif. of a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PJ0559, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PJ0528, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 17, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 20, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BHTUN31501’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BHTUN31501’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Picotee-type flowers that are dark red purple in color with         green-colored margins and dark violet-colored centers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more spreading than and not as         mounding as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are not as spreading as plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Fortunia Burgundy Picotee’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Fortunia Burgundy Picotee’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Fortunia Burgundy Picotee’ had dark red purple-colored flowers with white-colored margins.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘Happy Gal’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Happy Gal’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Happy Gal’ had red purple-colored flowers with white-colored margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘BHTUN31501’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘BHTUN31501’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer and early autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 9° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘BHTUN31501’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PJ0559, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PJ0528, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days             at air temperatures of 29° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days             at air temperatures of 21° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Annual flowering plant; upright and             outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; vigorous growth             habit; freely branching habit with about 14 lateral branches             and numerous secondary and tertiary lateral branches per             plant; pinching enhances development of lateral branches.         -   Plant height.—About 14 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 57 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent; viscid. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; viscid.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers;             flowers face mostly upward or outward; freely flowering             habit, about six to eight flower buds and open flowers per             lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; plants begin flowering about seven weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet, floral.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.5 cm. Depth (height): About             4.7 cm. Tube length: About 2.7 cm. Throat diameter, distal             end: About 1.4 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Towards the apex, close to             143A; towards the base, close to 79D.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a             single whorl, funnelform. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Roughly obovate. Petal lobe apex: Acute with             irregular shallow lobes. Petal lobe margin: Entire; sinuate.             Petal lobe texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; minute             pubescence along margins. Petal lobe texture, lower surface:             Pubescent. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface: Centers,             close to 72A; margins, close to 144A to 144B. When opening,             lower surface: Centers, close to 79B; margins, close to 144A             to 144B. Fully opened, upper surface: Centers, close to 72B;             margins, close to 137A and 144B; venation, close to N79B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Centers, close to 77B; margins,             close to 138A and 144B; venation, close to N79B to N79C.             Flower throat: Close to 83A; venation, close to N79A. Flower             tube (outside): Close to 77A to 77B; venation, close to             N79B.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.6 cm.             Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             upper surface: Close to N137A. Color, lower surface: Close             to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Angle:             About 45° from the stem axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent; viscid. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             color: Close to 91A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 97B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color:             Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to             201B. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been             observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘BHTUN31501’ as illustrated and described. 